Winter Snow Storm Policy for Peoples Church

The following are some general guidelines when there is a storm on Sunday morning, as discussed at this month's Church Council meeting:

1. Each person / family needs to assess the weather and decide for themselves if it would be best to stay home. If you feel that it would be best to stay home, why not take that opportunity to have your own family or private worship service? As a mission, perhaps you could think of some older members of the church and give them a call to see if they're okay and if they need anything.

2. If there is a parking ban in South Portland, Peoples Church will be closed for all regularly scheduled Sunday morning activities (Sunday School, coffee fellowship, worship, etc.) or at the pastors' discretion and consultation with other church leadership. On Sundays that worship is not cancelled but the weather is nominal, Sunday School may be cancelled; if Sunday School is cancelled, coffee fellowship is automatically cancelled as well.

3. We will post Sunday morning worship cancellation on TV WCSH channel 6, and an email will go out to those on the email list. If the storm occurs Sunday evening or during the week, we will also post other cancellations on channel 6 as necessary. For individual groups (committee meetings, prayer service, choir rehearsal), the group leader will contact regular members if there is a cancellation.

4. Since the pastors live next door to the church, one of the pastors will always be there to pray or to lead an informal service even when worship is cancelled. The parking lot will not be plowed and sidewalks will not be shovelled; be prepared to trudge up to the door in deep snow.

5. If you decide not to attend church on a Sunday morning, please set aside your gift or pledge contribution and either mail or bring the following Sunday. Wintry Sundays are extremely difficult on the church budget when folks skip a week's donation. Better yet, fill out a direct debit form so you need not worry about making up missed donations at all.

If you have any questions about these guidelines, please contact the pastors or church council chair, Chris Ward. Thank you.